Meadow Orchard Project Management Brief
May 2010
Report written by
Tony Wileman
London Wildlife Trust Skyline House
200 Union Street
London SE1 0LW
Tel: 020 7261 0447
Email: [email protected]
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Contents
1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................... 4
2. GENERAL DESCRIPTION .......................................................................... 4
2.1 Location............................................................................................................... 4
2.2 Grid reference .................................................................................................... 4
2.3 Area ..................................................................................................................... 4
2.4 Accessibility ......................................................................................................... 4
2.5 Tenure ................................................................................................................. 4
2.6 Management compartments ............................................................................... 4
3. EVALUATION ............................................................................................. 6
3.1 Habitat evaluation ............................................................................................... 6
3.2 Species evaluation ............................................................................................... 8
3.3 Site status ............................................................................................................ 9
4. CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES AND PROJECTS ................................. 10
5. COMMUNITY OBJECTIVES AND PROJECTS ....................................... 12
6. WORK PLAN ............................................................................................. 13
7. SITE MAPS ................................................................................................. 15
APPENDIX 1 ..................................................................................................... 19
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1. Introduction
This management brief aims to give an insight into how to best to manage the current
habitats present at the Meadow Orchard site to maintain and enhance its wildlife value
of the site. It also gives some pointers of good practice on how to design and develop a
sustainable wildlife friendly garden that can support wildlife and be used by people in
order to enhance the biodiversity and social value of the site.
2. General description
2.1 Location
The Meadow Orchard is located to the west of the Hornsey Central Medical Centre on
Park Road, Crouch End, London N8, within the London Borough of Haringey.
2.2 Grid reference
TQ 2948 8883
2.3 Area
0.6 hectares
2.4 Accessibility
Pedestrian access is via a wooden gate at the eastern end of the site from the Hornsey
Central Medical Centre car park. Permission from the Meadow Orchard Project
members is required as the site does not have general public access. There is no
vehicular access.
2.5 Tenure
The site is owned by NHS Haringey who have provided a 29 year lease to the Meadow
Orchard Project to manage the site as a wildlife friendly community garden. This runs
until 2038.
2.6 Management compartments
For the purposes of the proposed management, the site has been divided into the
following compartments and sub compartments (see Compartment map):
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1. Wildlife Garden and educational areas
2. Neutral grassland
2a. Eastern grassland
2b. Western grassland
3. Woodland edge
4. Scrub
4a. Boundary scrub
4b. Woodland scrub
5. Ponds (developed from seasonal wet depressions)
5a. Main pond
5b. Seasonal pond
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3. Evaluation In May 2010 an Extended Phase I habitat survey was undertaken by London Wildlife
Trust. The habitat and species descriptions and evaluations are included below.
3.1 Habitat evaluation
3.1.1 Dry grassland (48%)
This habitat was found to be in two patches divided by the damp grassland described
below; one at the eastern end and one at the western end. It is unknown when the
grassland was last mown and it appears to have had little or no management in the last
five years.
No grass species is dominant although false oat-grass (Arrhenatherum elatius) is the most
abundant. Other frequent grasses are common bent, (Agrostis capillaris), cock’s-foot
(Dactylis glomerata), common couch Elytrigia repens) and Yorkshire-fog (Holcus lanatus)
while meadow foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis), barren brome (Anisantha sterilis) red and
giant fescues (Festuca rubra and F. gigantea), perennial rye-grass (Lolium perenne) and
narrow-leaved, smooth and rough meadow-grasses (Poa angustifolia, P. pratensis and P.
trivialis) are present to a lesser degree.
Forbs1 present include yarrow (Achillea millefolium), common mouse-ear (Cerastium
glomeratum), meadow vetchling (Lathyrus pratensis), ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata),
silverweed (Potentilla anserina), creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens), curled dock
(Rumex crispus), common ragwort (Senecio jacobaea), dandelion group (Taraxacum
species), red clover (Trifolium pratense) and common vetch (Vicia sativa).
There are a scattering of young trees and shrubs of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur),
cherry species (Prunus species), white poplar (Populus alba), bramble species (Rubus
fruticosus agg) and buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) present within the dry grassland area.
3.1.2 Damp grassland (30%)
The damp grassland divides the two areas of dry grassland and like the dry grassland
appears to have had little or no management in the last five years.
The grass composition is similar to that of the dry grassland although common bent is
the most frequent species while narrow-leaved meadow-grass, barren brome and giant
fescue are absent while a small patch of tufted hair-grass (Deschampsia cespitosa); a
species commonly found in wet grasslands and fens can be found towards the site
boundary to the north.
1 Herbaceous species that are not grasses, rushes or sedges.
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Forbs composition is frequented by silverweed with the occasional yarrow, meadow
vetchling, ribwort plantain, creeping buttercup, dandelion and common vetch. Wetland
plant species not found in the dry grassland are jointed rush (Juncus conglomeratus) and
great willowherb (Epilobium hirsutum).
There are a scattering of young trees and shrubs of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur),
cherry species (Prunus species) and bramble species (Rubus fruticosus agg) present within
the wet grassland area.
Collectively the grasslands can be classified as typical semi-improved neutral grassland.
3.1.3 Woodland edge type habitat (17%)
Woodland edge type habitat was characteristic of areas where it was generally very
shady due to the presence of a somewhat closed canopy of large trees. This habitat
borders the entire length of the southern site boundary and is generally narrow and
defined by the width of one large tree. Some cutting of shrubs has been undertaken in
recent years.
Trees and shrubs creating the shade of these areas are composed of predominantly
pedunculate oak and cherry species with laburnum (Laburnum anagyroides) and sycamore
(Acer pseudoplatanus). Several lilac shrubs along the fenceline have been heavily cut back
in recent years and are now rather stunted in growth as a result. Tree saplings are
predominantly of sycamore, horse-chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), ash (Fraxinus
excelsior) and cherry with lesser amounts of Norway maple (Acer platanoides), hornbeam
(Carpinus betulus), laburnum, white poplar, Oregon-grape (Mahonia aquifolium),
buckthorn, elder and yew and pedunculate oak.
Ground flora composition is mostly that of wood avens (Geum urbanum) with garlic
mustard (Alliaria petiolata), cleavers (Galium aparine), ivy (Hedera helix), Spanish bluebell
(Hyacinthoides hispanica), honeysuckle (Lonicera peryclymenum), ribwort plantain, creeping
buttercup, bramble species, common nettle (Urtica dioica) and ivy-leaved speedwell
(Veronica hederifolia).
3.1.4 Bramble scrub (3%)
This habitat is located in patches along the northern and western boundaries of the site
and as two patches, one large and one small, within the confines of the site. There is
some very limited evidence of cutting of the scrub but its effect on controlling the
spread of the bramble has been limited.
The bramble scrub habitat is clearly dominated by bramble species with lesser amounts of grass and forb species present that are found within the adjacent habitats. A few
young and sapling pedunculate oak and cherry trees can be found within this habitat.
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3.1.5 Seasonal wet depressions (2%)
There are two seasonal wet depressions and both are found within the wet grassland
area. The plant species composition similar to that found in the wet grassland habitat
with less species but has more bare soil. No true wetland habitat around or within these
depressions has developed suggesting that they have only recently formed.
The current habitats have developed due in part to the lack of management. Although
this has benefitted the wildlife of the site through the development of a mosaic of semi-
improved grassland, scrub and woodland edge habitats, if the lack of management
continues woodland and scrub succession will invariably reduce the wildlife value. It is suggested that the habitats present should be maintained through appropriate
management that will encourage natural colonisation of appropriate species instead of
planting/seeding with wildflower mixes and/or planting of trees/shrubs. Some local
translocation of saplings oak trees from the grassland area to the woodland edge could
be considered as could some planting of a hedgerow feature along the northern
boundary.
It is considered good practice that any development having an impact on these habitats
is adequately mitigated for.
It should be emphasised that although habitats have some and occasionally great value as
stand alone ‘parcels’ within the landscape, a mosaic of differing habitats within that
landscape have significantly more value for biodiversity than any single habitat type.
3.2 Species evaluation
3.2.1 Plant species evaluation
The plant species found are typical of an urban grassland with trees that has been left to
develop ‘naturally’ (not intensively mown). Collectively the species present contribute to
a locally important habitat for invertebrates, birds and mammals that is surrounded by
habitats that typically have poorer value for wildlife.
No plant species fully protected under Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act
1981 were identified during this survey. It is a criminal offence to pick, uproot or
otherwise damage any of these species. It is considered unlikely that any schedule 8
protected plant species were present at the site.
No UK or London (regional) Biodiversity Action Plan vascular plant species were
recorded during the survey.
No species found on site are considered to be London notable species. These are those
species that occur in less than 15% of the 400 tetrads as indicated in the Flora of the
London Area (Burton 1983).
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3.2.2 Animal species evaluation
The site holds a locally important population of yellow meadow ant (Lasius flavus). The
ant hills present within the grassland are possibly the only ones present within a several
mile radius of the site and provide a valuable food source for green woodpecker (Picus
viridis).
The other animal species found suggest that the site offers good food plants for feeding
invertebrates such as bees and butterflies and other nectar feeding species. These
invertebrates in turn attract a variety of birds, which also find cover in the trees, shrubs
and scrub to breed and/or roost and hide from predators.
No animal species fully protected under the Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside
Act was identified during the survey. It is possible that bats are present on site due to
the presence of mature trees. All bat species are protected by law and a bat survey
should be undertaken if any works on the mature trees is undertaken on site.
It is possible that reptiles such as slow worm may be present on site as the habitat
would be ideal to support them. However, it is considered unlikely that a population is
present due to the isolation of the site from other suitable habitat. Despite this a reptile
survey should ideally be taken out before the areas of grassland are significantly changed.
No UK or London (regional) Biodiversity Action plan animal species were recorded
during the survey
3.3 Site status
The whole site can be considered to fit into the designation ‘Parks and Green spaces’ as
both a London (regional) and Haringey (local) Biodiversity Action Plan local habitat.
There are no UK Biodiversity Action Plan habitats present. Whilst no important habitats
are present, the site is still locally valuable, and through appropriate management can
continue to be locally important for wildlife.
The site comprises part of the Crouch End Playing Fields Complex Site of Borough
Grade I importance for Nature Conservation (SINC).
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4. Conservation objectives and projects
To conserve and enhance the existing wildlife and habitats of the site by
appropriate management.
To record where possible the wildlife on the site to monitor the effects of
management carried out.
To conserve the fragile and locally important ant hills.
Maintain grassland habitat through mowing management
The grassland habitat as defined by compartment 2 should be cut on a two-year rotation
with each sub compartment (a and b) being cut on alternate years. The grass should be
cut between 1 and 3 times a year with a cut in October being essential. Additional cuts
could be made at the end of March and again in January. The key is to not cut between
April and October.
The grass should be cut to a height no shorter than 10cm in height and all grass cuttings
(known as arisings) should be removed from the grassland. A suggested method would
be to use a strimmer or scythes. The grass cuttings (or some) could be piled into a
single suitable dry location along the western or southern edges of the reserve as a
winter refuge for small mammals and invertebrates or be used as compost.
Care needs to be taken to avoid damaging all ant hills present in the grassland during
cutting and the raking of cut materials for removal. Vegetation on the ant hills should
only be cut after the main cut using hand tools (garden shears, grass hook or similar)
again to a height no shorter than 10cm. Arisings from the ant hills should also be
removed.
Control tree and scrub successional growth
Each winter all scrub patches (compartments 4a and 4b) and successional trees/shrubs in
the grassland areas (i.e. seedlings that have colonised) should be cut back and
removed/cut respectively. It is suggested these are cut with strimmer and/or loppers
brushcutters and slashers. Arisings should be removed from site or piled as with the
grass arisings to form winter refuges.
All new scrub growth should be cut back every year between the months of October
and February to a line where grasses and wild flowers are no longer present underneath
the scrub leaving only areas that are of bare or of near bare ground underneath the
scrub.
Successional trees and shrubs present in the grasslands should be either cut back to
ground level or removed (if possible by pulling) each year between the months of
October and February. Some could be translocated and replanted within the woodland
edge habitat area (compartment 3) trying not to disturb existing woodland ground flora.
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Establish two ponds; one permanent and one seasonal
Before this is carried out it is suggested that the current hydrology of the site (especially
the origin of the wet depressions and damp grassland habitat) is understood before
undertaking this project.
The current proposal is to establish a permanent pond in the south next to the
woodland edge while allowing the depression to the north to become a seasonal
(winter) pond. Once the hydrology is fully understood it may be more sensible to
reverse this proposal.
Place invertebrate, bird and bat boxes up around site and create deadwood loggeries
To encourage wildlife to the site the placement of invertebrate, bird and bat boxes and the creation of two dead wood loggeries would be beneficial (one educational and one
to be left alone). Ideally no more that four bird boxes should be installed on trees in the
woodland (2x tit style and 2x robin style). They should be spaced evenly away from each
other.
Monitor wildlife sightings and undertake regular wildlife surveys
If possible records of wildlife sightings should be kept and sent to either Greenspace
Information for Greater London (GiGL) or the London Natural History Society/London
Bird Club or they could be sent to the London Wildlife Trust.
To properly understand how a site is changing or whether the wildlife value is being
maintained, enhanced or is degenerating, regular wildlife surveys should be undertaken.
These tend to require specialists, are costly and complex and many different types of
surveys are required for a detailed assessment. At the very least an extended phase 1
habitat survey should be undertaken every 5 years. Other valuable surveys would be for
birds, bats and insects. An ant hill survey could also be useful every five years to monitor
the exact location and size of the ant hills.
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5. Community objectives and projects
To set up and maintain a wildlife friendly community garden to promote nature
conservation and the work of the Meadow Orchard Project to visitors and local
residents by providing educational and interpretation facilities.
To maintain and improve the path system to allow safe public access.
Design, construct and maintain wildlife garden
The detailed design of the wildlife friendly garden and forest garden is beyond the scope of this management brief. However, there are a few pointers that should be considered
in the design and construction of the wildlife garden.
It is recommended that the extent of the garden including buildings and fruit
trees is contained within the area indicated on the proposed development maps.
The only exception to this is the creation of a loggery which could be located
outside the area in an appropriate area. Ideal locations would be in the southeast
corner or along the southern boundary or western boundaries.
Ideally no plants or seeds from outside the site should be planted or sown within the wild area without careful consideration of the impact they may have on the
current habitats and species present. Tree saplings in the grassland can be
carefully pulled and re-planted in more appropriate areas.
The area within the garden where the ant hills are present should not be
disturbed or loss of the ant hills is likely. This area would make an ideal
wildflower meadow where appropriate wildlflower seed mixes could be sown to
complement the grasses and flowers already present. The site would benefit
better if it was not entirely isolated from the existing grassland.
The trees currently in the garden area may prove to be problematic in the garden design and fitting in all that is wanted. They are all relatively young and
their removal would not have a significant impact on the sites biodiversity. The
wood from these trees could be used to make dead wood loggeries.
It is more beneficial to wildlife to plant/sow locally native species of herbs,
flowers, shrubs and trees than to use non-native species.
A number of plants should never be planted or sown anywhere on site, due to
their potential for causing damage to habitats (this includes species which are
illegal to plant). These are listed in Appendix 1.
Create and maintain path network
The path network throughout the site could be maintained simply by mowing a 1 metre
wide strip along the designated path line and maintaining it as short grass say 5cm in
height throughout the year. This will prevent the need for woodchip which can be costly
and or damaging to the environment and/or the need for other artificial surfaces which
can also be costly. In addition the shorter grasses will encourage those species such as
common daisy, creeping buttercup, white clover and tougher grasses to colonise these
areas adding to the biodiversity. In areas that get wet, a wooden boardwalk section
could be added to prevent the damp area becoming heavily eroded.
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6. Work plan
This work plan is a guide and will need to be changed and added too as more tasks are
required to undertake. Particularly those related to eth garden maintenance once it has
been created. Details of the conservation tasks in compartments 2-5 and other can be
found in the respective sections of Chapter 5.
Financial Year (April-March)
2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15
Compartment 1
Design garden area June-Aug
Design detailed
garden workplan
Aug
Prepare, develop
and plant up/sow
land for garden area
Sept -
March
April-June
Implement garden
workplan
Sept-March All year All year All year All year
Compartment 2
Remove saplings and
young trees from
grassland area by
digging up
Dec-Feb
Mow grassland to
no less than 10cm in
height and remove
all grass cuttings
taking care to avoid
ant hills
Oct, Jan
and March
(2a)
Oct, Jan
and March
(2b)
Oct, Jan
and March
(2a)
Oct, Jan
and March
(2b)
Oct, Jan
and March
(2a)
Compartment 3
Plant some saplings
and young trees
removed from
grassland into
woodland edge area
Dec-Feb
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Compartment 4
Cut back scrub and
remove material (to
green material piles)
Nov-March Nov-March Nov-March Nov-March Nov-March
Compartment 5
Investigate water
table and potential
underground
stream/drain
June-Aug
Design and dig ponds as required
Sept-Feb
Plant up ponds April-May
Other
Maintain path
network throughout
site by cutting back
overhanging
branches and
mowing 1m strip
Throughout
year as
required
Throughout
year as
required
Throughout
year as
required
Throughout
year as
required
Throughout
year as
required
Put up invertebrate,
bird and bat nest
boxes
July-Sept
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7. Site maps
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Appendix 1
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List of plants that should not be planted on site
Cotoneasters (Cotoneaster bullatus, C. horizontalis, C. microphyllus and c.simonsii)
False acacia (Robinia pseudoacacia)
Tree-of-heaven (Ailanthis altissima)
Evergreen oak (Quercus ilex)
Foxglove tree (Paulownia tomentosa)
Few-flowered leek (Allium paradoxum)
Three-cornered leek (Allium triquetrum)
Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum)
Giant knotweed (Fallopia sachalinensis and hybrid F. x bohemica)
Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica)
Giant rhubarb (Gunnera tinctoria)
Hottentot fig (Carpobrotus edulis)
Indian (Himalayan) balsam (Impatiens glandulifera)
Orange balsam (Impatiens capensis)
Small balsam (Impatiens parviflora)
Japanese rose (Rosa rugosa)
Montbretia (Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora)
Perfoliate alexanders (Smyrnium perfoliatum)
Rhodondendron (Rhododendron ponticum and hybrid R. maximum)
Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)
Spotted Laurel (Aucuba japonica)
Shallon (Gaultheria shallon)
Spanish bluebell (Hyacinthoides hispanica and hybrid H. x massartiana)
Yellow skunk cabbage (Lysichton americanus)
Variegated yellow archangel (Lamiastrum galeobdulum argentatum)
Snowberry (Symphoricarpos species)
Large blue alkanet (Anchusa azurea)
Goat’s-rue (Galega officinalis)
Cockspur grasses (Echinochloa species)
Pale galingale (Cyperus eragrostis)
Duck potato (Sagittaria latifolia)
Australian swamp stonecrop (New Zealand pigmyweed) (Crassula helmsii but also known
as Tillaea recurva and Tillaea helmsii)
Canadian pondweed (Elodea canadensis)
Nuttall’s pondweed (Elodea nuttallii)
Curly waterweed (Lagarosiphon major)
Fanwort (Cabomba caroliniana)
Floating pennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides)
Giant salvinia (Salvinia molesta)
Parrot’s feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum)
Water fern or Fairy fern (Azolla filiculoides)
Water hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes)
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Water primrose (Ludwigia species)
Water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes)
In addition various herbs and fruits can be invasive if allowed to escape from there
required areas. These include various species of mint, garden strawberries, raspberry
etc. care should be taken to make sure these species are contained or managed to
prevent them from escaping into the wider environment.